Mind Over Matter Trivia Quiz

Answer: Greek

"Telekinesis" and "psychokinesis" are both words of Greek origin, and convey similar meanings of moving an object from afar and with one's mind. This concept is commonly made use of in science fiction and fantasy, though most often relates to the paranormal.

The Greek language has heavily influenced English, especially in scientific and religious terminology, and the two languages share many roots in Latin.

Answer: Phoenix

Jean Grey, wife of Scott Summers/Cyclops, was one of original five X-Men and debuted in the first issue of that Marvel Comics series. As the Phoenix, her suppressed alter ego, Jean is an incredibly powerful mutant and has a wide variety almost limitless psychic powers - including that enviable power of telekinesis! In the first three "X-Men" films (2000, '03, and '06), Jean Grey was played by Dutch actress Famke Janssen.

After Jean's "death" at the end of the second movie, she was reborn as the Dark Phoenix in "The Last Stand" and joined Magneto's evil Brotherhood of Mutants.

In ancient mythology, the phoenix is a bird that, after suicidally plunging itself into fire, rises from the ashes in a reborn state.

Answer: Clapping my hands

"Clap On! Clap Off! The Clapper!" Sorry, no TK from me yet - it's just The Clapper reacting to my applause. One of many faddish products promoted on TV, The Clapper plugs into a wall outlet and allows you to turn an electric device on or off by clapping your hands.

A drawback is that some other noises, like clapping on television, can activate it as well. Joseph Enterprises, Inc., creator of that brilliant fad called the Chia Pet, received a patent for The Clapper in the mid-1980s.

Answer: Adobe Photoshop

Buguet produced his hoax "spirit photos" with the help of dummies and double exposure; the Frenchman was arrested in 1875 and spent a year in prison for his fraud. If I were to make a doctored photo, rest assured I would not present it as reality! With Adobe System's Photoshop, a skilled editor can create some impressive digital images.

This practice has become so common that "photoshop" has entered the language of computer jargon as a verb meaning to manipulate photos, and photoshopped image hoaxes abound on the Internet.

Answer: Jedi and Sith

In the fictional "Star Wars" universe that began with movies and expanded to books and many other forms of media, the Jedi and the Sith access the Force through symbiotic midichlorians in their bodies. In a long history of conflict, the two factions of telekinetic Force users have engaged in galactic struggles for millennia.

In the prequel films, the Jedi, who follow the Light Side of the Force, have been unaware of the dark-side Sith's hidden influence for a millennium. They are caught brutally by surprise when the Dark Lord reveals his identity, but more than two decades later, the last of the Sith are brought to an end with the help of the last Jedi, Luke Skywalker.

Answer: Zenith Electronics

Nikola Tesla patented a remote control that used radio waves in 1893 (primarily for military purposes), but it wasn't until Zenith's 1950 "Lazy Bones" remote that such technology reached television. Of course, back then, channel surfing wasn't nearly as complex as it is nowadays! That early remote required a cable connecting it to the TV, but wireless technology debuted in Zenith's 1955 "Flash-Matic." Then, in 1956, a wireless remote control employing ultrasonic sound frequencies, developed by Dr. Robert Adler, was marketed by Zenith under the high-tech name, "Zenith Space Command." This type of remote remained popular until the onset of infrared technology, which is still in use.

Answer: Spoon

In this bleak future, Earth is ruled by machines and most of humanity, in reality serving as a battery for the machines, live out their lives in a computer simulation called "The Matrix." When a person in the Matrix understands the nature of their surroundings, laws of physics lose their meaning. Neo, The One, has special insight into the Matrix.

He is not only telekinetic, but can move faster than a speeding bullet and fly like Superman. While visiting the Oracle in the Matrix, Neo met the child who explained how to perform the spoon-bending trick: remember that "there is no spoon" - it's just another bit of computer programming. (Fortunately, my failure here assures me that I am living in the real world.)

Answer: Magnets

This is called a "maglev" (magnetic levitation) train: electromagnets allow the train to levitate about a half-inch above the magnetized track. The first commercially operational maglev train was opened in Shanghai, China in 2004. Making use of German technology, this train routinely travels at speeds over 250 mph (400 km/h).

In 2003, a Japanese maglev train made a world record by reaching an impressive 361 mph (581 km/h)! An eco-friendly technology, maglev trains are kind to the environment and very energy efficient.

Answer: Tuvok (Vulcan)

Known for their logic and control over their emotions, Vulcans are a telepathic species. This ability is demonstrated in Vulcan mind melds, when two minds become one through touch. Tuvok is a Vulcan officer aboard "Voyager," and not the only crewman there with telepathy. Kes, a young Ocampan woman, was guided by Tuvok as she developed her own mental powers. Kes's abilities eventually grew to include telekinesis. "Star Trek" telepathy has been explained as one's being able to access the fictitious "psionic field."

Answer: 3 Musketeers

The 3 Musketeers candy bar, called Milky Way in Europe and Australia, has been providing chocolate lovers with a "lighter way to enjoy chocolate" and "45% less fat" since 1932. The delicious, nougat-filled candy was originally packaged as a trio of different flavored pieces (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla), hence the name that resembles Alexandre Dumas' 1844 work, "The Three Musketeers." On some TV ads, 3 Musketeers candy bars are depicted as being so light and fluffy, they'll float away if you don't hang on to them! While I still don't have any telekinetic tricks up my sleeve, I think I deserve the chocolate anyway. :)